Bow Buoy Docking System

ABSTRACT

A docking system to aid in docking a boat includes an elongate member that engages the dock and a distal end extending into the body of water away from the dock. A line having configured to attach to the beach or walkway is connected to a distal end of the elongate member. A first connecting assembly, including a first line that is releasably securable to the dock and a float secured to a distal portion of the first line, engages a distal portion of the elongate member. A second connecting assembly comprising a second line is releasably securable to the dock. At least two elongate floats are secured to the second line. The second connecting assembly is connected to the float of the first connecting assembly, and the second connecting assembly is longer than the first line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 62/353,458, filed Jun. 22, 2016, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

Docking a boat can be one of the most stressful tasks you will perform, especially for new boaters. The boater needs to get the boat right up to the dock, but not too hard, to avoid any damage to the boat or to the dock. The approach to a dock will depend on the space available to dock, as well as wind and currents.

Typically, the boater will deploy fenders and lines on the side of the boat that will be adjacent the dock. The boater will typically approach the dock at an angle, applying power intermittently to approach the dock at a slow, controlled speed. As the bow is nearing the dock, with the engine in neutral, the boater will turn the wheel away from the dock, then go forward at idle speed for a few seconds; then go back to neutral. The bow will turn more parallel to the dock. Momentum should then carry the boat towards the dock. A brief burst of reverse at idle speed may then be applied to stop the forward motion, and the prop wash should push the stern towards the dock. To successfully perform the docking, without damaging equipment, the boater must learn to use intermittent power to control the speed of the boat, and to turn at the proper time such that the boat ends up next to the dock If the boater turns too soon, the boat will not end up next to the dock If the boater turns too late, the bow may hit the dock before the watercraft turns.

Many boaters will not undertake docking without having a second person on board to assist with the maneuver, for example, by leaping from the boat to the dock with a mooring line to either prevent the boat from impacting the dock, or to pull the boat towards the dock. Therefore, boaters are unable or unwilling to take the boat out by themselves, which can greatly limit the opportunities for boating.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a docking system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the docking system shown in FIG. 1, as the boat is engaging the docking system;

FIG. 3 illustrates the docking system shown in FIG. 1, with the boat positioned at the dock;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a docking system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the docking system a second embodiment, with the boat positioned at the dock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of a docking system 100 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, installed near a conventional dock 90 in position to be engaged by a boat 99 that will be moored at the dock 90. In this embodiment a swing arm 102 is attached to, and extends away from, a shore or dock walkway 94 and into the body of water 94. The swing arm 102 in this embodiment is configured to pivot or swing about its proximal end. The arm 102 may be temporarily attached to the shore or dock walkway 94, for example, by lashing the swing arm 102 to the walkway 94, e.g., at an attachment fixture, such as a post or a cleat 95A. The distal end of the swing arm 102 is biased away from the dock 90 with an elastic or partially elastic line 104 that is secured to a second attachment fixture 95B on the shore or dock walkway 94. For example, the elastic line may comprise a conventional nautical line attached to a bungie-type of elastic member. Optionally, one or more elongate buoys or floats 3A, 3B are attached to the arm 102 to improve the visibility of the swing arm 102 and to maintain the swing arm 102 at or above the water surface.

A first line 106 is secured at one end to a cleat 95C on the dock 90 and extends towards a distal portion of the swing arm 102. The first line 106 is secured to one or more floats or buoys 1A, 1B, and to a short line 108 to the swing arm 102. In one embodiment a connector ring is provided for connecting the first line 106, floats 1A, 1B, and short line 108. In one embodiment the floats or buoys 1A, 1B are polymeric inflatable marker or mooring buoys.

Another connecting assembly comprising a second line 110 that extends from the dock cleat 95C towards the swing arm 102, that engages two or more buoys or floats 2A, 2B, (connected serially), is also connected to the swing arm 102 through the short line 108. The buoys or floats 2A, 2B in one embodiment are elongate twin-eye boat fenders. The combined length of the second line 110 and the floats 2A, 2B is preferably longer than the first line 106, for reasons that will be apparent from the FIGURES. A third line 112 extends from the walkway cleat 95A to the short line 108 and, may also engage the ring limiting the distance the floats 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B can travel away from the shore or walkway 94.

The operation of the docking system 100 will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 1-3, which show the boat 99 engaging the system 100. The boat approaches the dock 90 and docking system 100, generally as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, as the boat 99 begins to engage the docking system it first passes over the first line 106, which is thereby urged under the boat 99 pulling the floats 1A 1B against the bow of the boat 99, on the side opposite the dock 90, causing the swing arm 102, which is biased outwardly by elastic line 104, to pivot towards the dock 90. As the boat 99 continues to move forward, the floats 1A, 1B move with the boat 99 and gently urge the bow towards the dock 90.

The second line 110 is longer than the first line 106, and is therefore initially relatively slack. As the boat 99 continues forward the bow of the boat 99 engages one or more of the floats 2A, 2B causing the second line 110 to become taut. The floats 2A, 2B capture the prow of the boat 99 and works together with the first line 106 to urge the boat 99 closer to the dock 90, and to impede the forward motion of the boat 99. As the floats 2A, 2B are urged forward by the boat 99, the line 110 swings inwardly toward the dock 90, aiding in correctly positioning the boat 99. The impeding force provided by the floats 2A, 2B allows the operator to apply a sensible amount of power to the engine(s) to swing the stern end of the boat 99 towards the dock 90. The system 100 therefore permits a single user to easily dock the boat 99, as shown in FIG. 3, without requiring assistance from a passenger or others on the dock 90.

When the boat 99 is backed away from the dock, the third line 112 secures the float assembly, limiting the distance the floats can move (upwardly, in FIG. 3). The elastically coupled line 104 urges the swing arm 102 away from the dock 90, maintaining the vacated docking system 100 in position to receive the boat 99 on its return.

A second embodiment of a docking system 200 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. The docking system 200 is similar to the docking system shown in FIGS. 1-3, with an elongate arm 202 spaced away from the dock 90 and extending into the water, a first line 206 extending between the elongate arm 202 and the dock with the floats 1A, 1B attached near the distal end, and configured to slide under the bow of the boat 99 during docking, and a second line 210 with floats 2A, 2B, and 2C that capture the bow of the boat 99. For brevity and clarity, the aspects of the system already described above will not be repeated. It will be appreciated that in both of the docking systems 100 and 200 the second line 110, 210 with the associated buoys or floats are configured to engage the bow of the boat 99 to impede, prevent, and/or stop the forward motion of the boat 99, even when, for example, using engine power to urge the stern end of the boat 99 towards the dock.

The second embodiment differs from the system 100 in that the elongate arm 202 is installed at a generally fixed orientation in the body of water, and the lines 206, 210 (with connected floats) extending between the dock 90 and the elongate arm 202 are biased towards the elongate arm by a weight or anchor 209 connected to a line that extends through a passageway, eyehole or pulley in the elongate member 202. The stopping buoys or floats 2A, 2B, 2C are also configured to provide greater stopping power.

In the docking system 200 shown in FIG. 4, the buoys or floats 2A, 2B, 2C that comprise a portion of the second line 210 are configured to provide improved holding power over the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, for example, to accommodate larger watercraft and/or to guard against an operator's use of too much engine power during docking.

The bows of different boats may have different shapes. For example, a bow may be “plumb,” sharply “raked,” or a “spoon” bow. Different buoy configurations 2A, 2B, 2C may be more suitable for one type of hull. For example, a bow shape referred to as “spoon” type bow will benefit from a third buoy 2C, which provides better stopping affect, as described below.

In the docking system 200 shown in FIG. 4 the first line 206 may be provided with one or more weights 207 along its length, such that the line 206 is partially submerged prior to engaging the boat 99 to prevent the first line from snagging on the bow and facilitate its passage under the bow, to pull the floats or buoys 1A, 1B toward the boat 99.

In the docking system 200 the elongate arm 202 is secured to the walkway 94 at its proximal end and with a third line 204 that does not elastically bias to elongate arm 202 towards an open position, but rather secures the arm 202 at a desired orientation in the water. The first and second lines 206, 210 are secured to a third line 214 that slidably extends through a passageway on the arm 202, for example, through an eyehole screw or pulley. The third line 214 is secured to a weight, for example, a mushroom anchor 209 such that the first line 206 (and buoys or floats 1A, 1B) are biased towards the elongate arm 202, in position to receive the boat 99 for docking.

A particular advantage of some embodiments of the present docking system is that the system 100, 200 is portable, and readily installable. To install the docking system 100, for example, the user may simply carry the portable system 100 to the desired location. The floats 3A, 3B are attached (or pre-attached) to the arm 102, and the lines 104, 106, 108, 110, and 112 are attached to the arm 102. A proximal end of the arm 102 is lashed a shore or dock walkway 94, for example, by lashing it to the cleat 95A, with the arm 102 extending out into the water, and lines 106 and 110 attached to the dock, for example, at the cleat 95C. The lines 104, 112 are attached to the walkway 94, for example, at the cleats 95A 95B, and the system 100 is ready for use. In other embodiments, with obvious modifications, the systems 100, 200 may be quasi-permanently installed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A docking system to aid in docking a boat to a dock in a body of water, the system comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end configured to attach to a beach or walkway that engages the dock and a distal end extending into the body of water, wherein the elongate member is spaced away from the dock; a line configured having a proximal end configured to attach to the beach or walkway, and a distal end connected to a distal portion of the elongate member; a first connecting assembly comprising a first line that is releasably securable to the dock, and at least one float secured to a distal portion of the first line, wherein the first connecting assembly engages a distal portion of the elongate member; a second connecting assembly comprising a second line that is releasably securable to the dock, and at least two elongate floats secured to the second line, the second connecting assembly connected to the at least one float of the first connecting assembly, and wherein the second connecting assembly is longer than the first line.
 2. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the third line is elastic and biases the distal portion of the elongate member away from the dock.
 3. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one float comprises a plurality of marking or mooring buoys.
 4. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the at least two elongate floats comprise boat bumpers.
 5. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the at least two elongate floats comprise at least three interconnected floats.
 6. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the docking system is portable and removable.
 7. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the elongate member further comprises an engagement aperture near its distal end, and further comprises an anchor line with a weight wherein the anchor line extends through and slidably engages the engagement aperture, and includes a proximal end that is fixed to a distal end of the first connecting assembly and a distal end of the second connecting assembly, wherein the anchor line is configured to bias the distal ends of the first and second connecting assemblies towards the elongate member. 